Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal

Anchorage-based independent journalist Nathaniel Herz has been a reporter in Alaska for nearly a decade, with stints at the Anchorage Daily News and Alaska Public Media. Read his newsletter, Northern Journal, at northernjournal.com.

The last skipper in Ouzinkie: How Gulf of Alaska villages lost their Native fishing fleets

A permitting system designed in the 1970s was supposed to make Alaska’s commercial fishing industry more sustainable and more profitable. But over the last 50 years, it has hollowed out many Indigenous coastal villages where residents no longer can earn a living by harvesting salmon.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal February 7, 2025

Rolling blackouts could loom for urban Alaska as natural gas crunch intensifies

Homer Electric Association, which serves much of the Kenai Peninsula, recently announced that it secured an “interruptible” gas agreement for the next year — meaning that it could experience a shortfall during a cold snap.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal January 22, 2025

Regulators, advocates warn of utility inaction as Alaska gas shortfall looms

“The window for making decisions is closing,” said one top regulator. “If things just sort of slide and there’s no leadership, and we’re in the same position 12 months from now, we are looking at a dire, dire, situation. And people should get angry.”

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal December 30, 2024
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Loch Ness ducks or ‘vampire grebes’? Alaska governor’s wish list for Trump comes with AI hallucinations.

A ChatGPT-generated image of Alaska included some strange-looking waterfowl. Northern Journal investigates.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal December 20, 2024

Big fight looms at Board of Fish meeting over Prince William Sound trawl bycatch

Conservation and tribal advocates have lobbied for a crackdown for years on the unintentional harvests of salmon and other species by Bering Sea pollock trawlers. Now, they’re turning their attention to a smaller Alaska pollock trawl fishery in Prince William Sound.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal December 15, 2024

America’s first Arctic ambassador was just confirmed weeks ago. Now he could be out of a job.

Alaska geographer Mike Sfraga hasn’t announced his resignation. But it’s standard for politically appointed ambassadors to leave their posts during a presidential transition.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal December 5, 2024

America’s first Arctic ambassador was just confirmed weeks ago. Now he could be out of a job.

Alaska geographer Mike Sfraga hasn’t announced his resignation. But it’s standard for politically appointed ambassadors to leave their posts during a presidential transition.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal November 28, 2024

Arctic bitcoin? Hilcorp, tech firm aim to test North Slope data center

A Hilcorp oil field in Alaska’s Arctic is set to host a tech firm that wants to use natural gas-fired power to mine digital currency.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal November 24, 2024

Data centers face growing opposition Outside. Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants them in Alaska.

The Republican governor says Alaska has in excess what the data industry is finding increasingly scarce Outside: land and water, if not cheap electricity. He also says new data centers would boost the case for Alaska’s proposed natural gas pipeline.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal October 19, 2024

Original Peter Pan Seafood investor wins auction for troubled company’s assets

Rodger May, an entrepreneur and fish trader, narrowly beat out another industry player, Silver Bay Seafoods, with his $37.3 million bid. The sale must still be approved by a Seattle court.

Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal September 20, 2024
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